BonniePurcell (1927 - 2017)

She was born March 29, 1927 in Louisville, Ky. but grew up in Asheville, where her father Henry Lee Thrash moved the family to establish a coal and heating oil company. She graduated from Lee Edwards High School in Asheville.

Bonnie attended Queens College in Charlotte for two years before transferring to UNC Chapel Hill where she graduated with a BA in Sociology. While at UNC, she was Vice President of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and the only majorette with the Marching Tar Heels to march at halftime of the 1949 Sugar Bowl.

During her time at UNC she met her future husband Gus. They moved to Charlotte in 1951 where they remained until 1995. She was as much a part of Gus' football teams as he was. She maintained detailed scrapbooks of every Myers Park football team during his coaching years. She also played a major role in the success of their many entrepreneurial ventures.

She was an avid golfer and even had a hole in one to her name. Bonnie and Gus' retirement years were spent in Wagram, NC where they both played golf often and hosted the annual Purcell Family Golf Tournament.

Bonnie's next adventure was at Scotia Village, where she excelled at Bridge, and enjoyed her many new friends. She truly loved the relationships she formed during her time there. She will be remembered by her family and friends for her infectious, spontaneous laughter and her zest for life.

She is survived by: her son Gary and his wife Beth of Holly Springs; and her daughter Lucy Sojka and her husband Nick of Laurinburg; her five grandchildren: John Purcell of Las Vegas; Andrea Purcell, Ashley Purcell Fletcher, and her husband Kyle, and Eleanor Sojka, all of Charlotte, and Joe Sojka of Chapel Hill; sister Lucille "Babe" Huntington of Chapel Hill; great-grandsons Owen, Luke, and Davis Fletcher of Charlotte, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Gus, her son Jimmy, and her brother Lee Thrash, Jr.

The family will receive friends at Scotia Village from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church. Private interment will precede the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bonnie's name may be made to Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Church St., Laurinburg, NC 28352 or Scotland County Humane Society, 1401 W. Blvd., Laurinburg, NC 28352 or Scotia Village Foundation, 2200 Elm Ave., Laurinburg, NC 28352.